Oxygen ups Aissa, greenlights five series

Millennial entrepreneurs and Kim Kardashian's pastor are among the characters featured in five series greenlit by U.S. net Oxygen ahead of its October 7 rebrand, which also sees Rod Aissa (pictured) promoted to EVP of programming and development.

Millennial entrepreneurs and Kim Kardashian’s pastor are among the characters featured in five series greenlit by U.S. net Oxygen ahead of its October 7 rebrand, as Rod Aissa is promoted to the role of executive VP of original programming and development.

The previously announced rebrand will see the net gearing more culturally diverse programming towards young and modern women, according to a release, as well as adopting a new logo and the tagline “very real.”

Aissa was previously SVP of programming and development, and helped launch the series Preachers of L.A. and Sisterhood of Hip Hop. He will continue to oversee strategic development and production of programming, reporting to Frances Berwick, president of Bravo and Oxygen Media.

Prior to joining Oxygen, Aissa was on the net’s launch team, overseeing shows including Becoming Chaz, Ryan and Tatum: The O’Neals and Finding Sarah. The exec also served as EVP of TV at Ashton Kutcher-helmed prodco Katalyst Films, where he worked on two seasons of True Beauty for ABC.

“Rod has a remarkably intuitive touch for finding unique original content that is culturally relevant for our audience in this young, multicultural demo,” said Berwick in a statement. “His passion and creativity will be instrumental as we continue to expand our programming slate for the new Oxygen.”

Aissa will also oversee the net’s latest series. The shows – all of which have working titles – include the FremantleMedia-produced The Investment Club, which follows young millennial entrepreneurs pitching business ideas to self-made moguls; Crazy Legs Productions’ The Prancing Elite Project, on a male competitive dance team from Alabama; and the Magical Elves-made The Wilkersons, which follows pastor-to-the-stars Rich Wilkerson (pictured), who married West and Kardashian.

Additional series greenlit by the net include Asylum Entertainment’s Finding My Father, on people looking to find and reconnect with their fathers; and L. Plummer Media’s Preachers of Detroit - a Preachers of L.A. spin-off - which follows a group of seven Detroit pastors, and will premiere this coming winter.